Basketball legend and three-time Hall of Famer Jerry West, whose silhouette inspired the NBA logo, has died aged 86. West, nicknamed ‘Mr Clutch’ for his late-game exploits as a player, went into the Hall of Fame as a player in 1980 and again as a member of the 1960 US Olympic Team in 2010. He will be enshrined for a third time later this year as a contributor.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today West was “the personification of basketball excellence and a friend to all who knew him”, the Los Angeles Clippers said in announcing his death. West’s wife Karen was by his side when he died. He was an All-Star in all 14 of his NBA seasons, a 12-time All-NBA selection, part of the 1972 Los Angeles Lakers team that won a championship, an NBA Finals MVP as part of a losing team in 1969 and was selected as part of the NBA’s 75th anniversary team.
West was general manager of eight NBA championship teams with the Lakers, helping build the ‘Showtime’ dynasty. He also worked in the front offices of the Memphis Grizzlies, the Golden State Warriors and the Clippers. Among his many, many highlights as an executive with the Lakers: he drafted Magic Johnson and James Worthy, then brought in Kobe Bryant and eventually Shaquille O’Neal to play alongside Bryant.
Johnson paid a personal tribute with a reflection on meeting West for the first time in 1979 to negotiate with the Lakers. “Jerry took me to the locker room to show me my Lakers jersey. I started to cry and .